May 04, 2018
Project “Influence of Noise on Mental Illnesses”
Project “Influence of Noise on Mental Illnesses”
Project duration: 09/01/2017 - 06/30/2021
Project manager: Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Andreas Seidler, MPH
Scientific team: Dr. rer. nat. Melanie Schubert and Dr. rer. biol. hum. Janice Hegewald
Other project participants:
Professorship of Transport Ecology at the TU Dresden (Prof. Dr.-Ing. Udo Becker), Institute for Social and Occupational Medicine/LIFE Study at the University of Leipzig (Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Steffi G. Riedel-Heller), cdf Noise protection (Dipl.-Ing. D. Friedemann), Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology (BIPS) (Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Hajo Zeeb)
Project description
Chronic noise exposure from air, road and rail traffic can trigger complex psychological and physiological stress reactions directly or indirectly - mediated, for example, by a chronic lack of sleep. In the long term, this can result in an increased risk of mental illness. So far, only relatively few studies have dealt with the connection between traffic noise and mental illness. Our large NORAH study on health risks allowed for the first time a comparative calculation of the depression risks from road and rail traffic noise as well as aircraft noise. Based on the data of insured persons from three large statutory health insurance companies, 77,295 cases with clinical depression newly diagnosed in the years 2006 to 2010 and 578,246 control persons without a corresponding depression diagnosis could be identified. The result was a connection between all three types of traffic noise (aircraft noise, road traffic noise, rail traffic noise) and the diagnosis of depression. Open research questions exist with regard to the traffic noise-related risks for specific mental illnesses, and the influence of the results through unrecognized or residual confounding (particularly important: air pollutants), as well as the importance of nocturnal maximum levels and the replicability of the results of the NORAH study on illness risks in other study regions. The project addresses these questions.
Procedure
This project includes:
- a systematic review that builds on an already registered and published (in PROSPERO) study protocol
- two empirical partial studies
As part of sub-study 1, an extended analysis of the NORAH study on health risks is carried out.
As part of sub-study 2, survey data from the Leipzig LIFE cohort study is linked to address-specific traffic noise data and address-specific data on air pollutants.
The two sub-studies enable the following, scientifically innovative aspects to be taken into account:
- A broad spectrum of specific mental illnesses is being investigated with regard to an association with chronic traffic noise exposure.
- The risk calculations are not carried out (as in the NORAH case control study) with the calculation of odds ratios according to the case control approach; rather, hazard ratios (HR) are calculated according to the cohort approach.
- In addition to the first occurrence of a mental illness during the observation period, chronic traffic noise is also examined as a possible influencing factor on the course of mental illness.
- Based on the in-depth survey of the NORAH study on health risks, the influence of socio-economic, lifestyle-related and other personal factors (including noise sensitivity and noise pollution) on the connection between traffic noise exposure and mental illnesses is examined. The aforementioned factors are not only regarded as possible confounders, but also as possible moderator and mediator variables.
- The replicability of the results of the NORAH study on health risks in another region with partly different traffic noise characteristics is examined.
- Air pollutants (PM10 fine dust and NOx) are (in sub-study 2) recorded by address and taken into account in the analysis as an important confounder.
- Nocturnal maximum levels of rail traffic noise (in sub-study 2) are taken into account in addition to the nocturnal maximum levels of aircraft noise.
The interdisciplinary study team combines university expertise in the fields of epidemiology and public health, acoustics and psychiatry; an experienced acoustic engineering office is also involved.
Planned project result
Important insights into the connection between chronic traffic noise exposure and mental illnesses are to be gained. This should form a starting point for preventive measures.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Contact person:
© Stephan Wiegand
Scientist
NameDr. rer. nat. Melanie Schubert
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